Wad



Jan. 12, 1954 MQREL I 2,665,635

WAD

Filed June 28, 1950 I/v VE/vToR Mam/c5 EDMOND Mona.

Patented Jan. 12, 1954 to Societe Francaise des Munitions de Chasse,

de 'Iir et de Guerre, S. A., Issy-lesMoulineaux, France, a society of France Application June 28, 1950, Serial No. 170,724 Claims priority, application France June 30, 1949 7 2 Claims. 1

The present invention relates to cartridges including wads, that is to say pressure transmitting packing means interposed between the charge and the projectile, either simple or multiple.

The object of my invention is to improve the ballistic properties of these cartridges.

Preferred embodiments of my invention will be hereinafter described with reference to the accompanying drawings, given merely by way of example, and in which:

Fig. 1 is a side view, partly in axial section of a shotgun cartridge made according to my invention;

Figs. 2 and 3 are axial sections of two modifications of a wad for a similar cartridge;

Fig. 4 is an explanatory view illustrating the deformation undergone by the wad of the cartridge shown by Fig. 1.

The cartridge shown by Fig. 1 includes, in the usual fashion, a case I containing a charge 2 of powder and a projectile constituted by shot 3, with a wad 4 interposed between said charge and said shot.

According to my invention, this wad is constituted by a hollow element, of at least substantially cylindrical shape, the side wall of which is provided with one or, as shown by the drawing, several holes 5, for instance of circular outline, preferably located halfway between the ends of the wad. In this way I obtain a compressible wad which exerts a damping action on the transmission of the explosion to the mass of shot 3 due to the fact that, when the shot is fired, the wad is deformed and expels through orifices 5 the air enclosed therein. This air, which is compressed before being driven out, tends to apply the side wall of the wad against the inner wall of case I so that the powder charge 2 i more tightly separated from the shot charge 3. Once this air has escaped through holes 5, to pass between wad 4 and case I, it constitutes a kind of film which facilitates sliding movement of the wad with respect to the case.

Such a wad further acts as a regulator of the pressure of the propelling gases due to the fact that the out-flow of air through holes 5 takes place proportionally to the value of this pressure and a suitable choice of the size of these holes makes it possible to obtain the most advantageous regulating effect.

Wad 4 may be made of cardboard, a light metal, a flexible plastic material (drawn, molded, etc.), or possibly a combination of these matters, which may be coated with protecting or lubricating products.

I may also fit the inside of the wad with an elastic fibrous material such for instance as glass fibre, or fibres of fiexible plastic materials, the moderating action of which is added to that of compressed air.

According to the embodiment of Fig. 1, the

III

wad isessentially constituted by a cylindrical wall 4 having inwardly bent ends against which are applied two discs 4a glued or merely placed on said tube ends.

According to the embodiment of Fig. 2, the cylindrical wall 4 of the wad and one of the end walls ib thereof are constituted by a single stamped piece, for instance of a light metal, the other end wall 40 being fixed like a lid on the corresponding end of said piece, made of slightly smaller diameter.

According to the embodiment of Fig. 3, both of the end walls 4d and 4c of the wad are secured to the tubular wall 4, for instance by gluing so as to cover the edges of said tubular wall, which are advantageously made of slightly smaller diameter.

For explanatory purposes, Fig. 4 illustrates the working of the wad of Fig. 1 upon firing of the cartridge. It will be seen that the side wall of the wad is deformed in accordion-like fashion Whereas the end Walls curve inwardly. This double deformation causes a reduction of the inner volume of the wad, so that the air presen therein is driven out through hole 5.

The wad according to my invention is of light weight, simple to manufacture and moderates the acceleration when the shot is fired, so that the shot is less deformed and remains better grouped.

In a general manner, while I have, in the above description, disclosed what I deem to be practical and efiicient embodiments of my invention, it should be well understood that I do not wish to be limited thereto as there might be changes made therein without departing from the principle of my invention as comprehended within the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. A cartridge wad including a cylindrical deformable side wall and substantially flat front and rear end walls limiting between them an air chamber, said side wall being provided with at least one hole connecting said air chamber with the outside of said side wall.

2. A cartridge wad according to claim 1 in which said cylindrical side wall has inwardly bent edges, said front and rear end wall being applied against said bent edges.

MOREL, MAURICE EDMOND.

Great Britain July 14, 1938 

